The Canadian Government has announced plans to increase the numbers of immigrants accepted through various Provincial Nominee Programs across the country.
This month Citizenship and Immigration Canada made the announcement, saying that their goal for 2012 is to increase the number of nominees to between 42,000 and 45,000 which includes the nominee as well as their immediate family. That is an increase of almost 10,000 since 2010 when 36,000 newcomers arrived through PNP nominations.
Excepting Quebec and Nunavut, each province and territory have a PNP agreement with the federal government, which allows employers in the province to nominate certain skilled workers for fast-track immigration consideration.
Upon making the announcement, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney acknowledged the role that these Provincial Nominee Programs have had in attracting immigrants to places other than Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal – places such as Saskatchewan and Alberta where skilled workers are much more desperately needed.
“The Government of Canada recognizes the crucial role the Provincial Nominee Program plays in meeting local labour market needs,” said Minister Kenney. “The PNP has made great strides in sharing the benefits of economic immigration across the country.”
Minister Kenney also noted that his department is still working closely with provincial and territorial governments across the country to improve the PNP in the coming years.
Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
